I grew up in Kansas, so I’m of course referring to the moment in the Wizard of Oz when Toto pulls back the curtain and reveals the all-powerful wizard to be merely a man. We tend to view college admissions counselors the same way as Dorothy did the Wizard, as all-powerful people who relish their power and enjoy rejecting people who are just numbers to them. What we tend to forget is that these are real people with real stories, who have been through this process themselves. These people care deeply about the students applying to their schools and yearn for them to succeed. Hopefully, by reading this post, you will have a greater appreciation for and understanding of the people that make the admissions process work. If you want to know more, Jacques Steinberg’s book, The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College is an accurate and engaging read.
The admissions season generally lasts about 20 months from January of one year to August of the next (i.e. January 2012 to August 2013 when recruiting for those starting school in Fall 2013). This means that each Spring/Summer, counselors are pulling double duty. Let me walk you through an admissions season. I’ll use the Fall 2013 admissions season as an example, as we’re currently in it.
January 2012 – May 2012: The Spring of the junior year is usually when students suddenly realize, “I need to start researching colleges, because I’m almost a senior!” This can be a terrifying and overwhelming realization. Many times, students have this realization when their first college admissions counselor arrives at their high school. Yes, college admissions counselors travel, a lot. Although the bulk of the travel usually happens in the Fall, they do make some high school visits in the Spring.
June 2012 – August 2012: Summer Vacation!!! Right? Nope, it’s the time of summer campus visits! That smiling face you see when you arrive on campus…yep, that’s typically an admissions counselor. They give tours, answer questions, and field general phone/e-mail inquiries throughout the summer.
September 2012 – November 2012: These few months can be summed up in one word: TRAVEL. Recruitment is a big part of each college’s admissions process. Just as you are seeking acceptance into your perfect college, we are trying to convince you that we’re it. If you haven’t heard of us or talked to us, then you’re certainly not going to come, so we’re out there making ourselves known. And, yes, the people you see out traveling are typically the same people who will be involved in the decision process down the road. So, be nice to them. And, be aware that behind those smiling, happy faces you meet, you typically have a homesick, tired and sometimes desperately in need of food or coffee counselor. To give you an example, in October alone, I will travel over 20,000 miles to 20 different cities all over the United States. In each city, I typically have a one night stay before I fly to the next, giving me a precious few hours to be out there recruiting in each city. Although traveling can be fun, it can also be exhausting, especially when dealing with airport security every single day. I will be all smiles and genuinely happy to be presenting to each and every potential student. But, what you won’t see is that I will be missing my husband, my adorable daughter and even my bed, as I will be gone for 25 days straight. In fact, I will even miss my daughter’s birthday. I only tell you this so that you can remember how far a “How are you?” or “Thank you for your time” can go when you speak to these admissions counselors. Sometimes, just a smile will brighten our day. Remember, we’re real people with real families who genuinely care about each and every student we meet. You’re so much more than a number.
December 2012: Those applications are pouring in. Here at VCU, the majority of our applications come in by December 1st, our deadline for scholarship consideration. As the applications come in, we’re busy setting up audition dates and confirming that all materials have been submitted.
January 2013 – February 2013: Auditions! This is your time to show us your stuff. The admissions counselors in music programs are usually the event managers, those behind the scenes who make everything happen.
March 2013: Decision time: This is probably the hardest part of the season. Ultimately, each school only has a limited number of slots and it’s a very complex puzzle trying to determine who should fill those slots. Although grades, SAT/ACT scores, and your audition certainly play a large role, they aren’t the only things considered. Instrument studio numbers are also important (making sure we have the right amount of people in each instrument area). Sometimes, it just comes down to the fact that we have a limited number of slots. For instance, when I was the head of the Stage Management program, one year I had 28 applications for 4 slots. Plus, I had the strongest and most talented applicant pool I’d ever had. I agonized over the decision and ultimately had to turn away a lot of really talented people. Believe me, admissions counselors take these decisions very seriously and it’s not easy to reject someone.
April 2013 – May 2013: You chose us! This is when we find out how many of those people we offered acceptance to are actually committing to come to our institution. By this point, we’ve gotten to know you and are truly excited when you decide to come. Each affirmative response letter we get is like opening a present. During this time we’re also fielding phone calls and hosting events encouraging students to enroll in our institution. At VCU, we have “Preview Day,” where all of our accepted students can come spend the day getting to know us better. It helps these students decide if they want to come to VCU or not.
June 2013 – August 2013: We’re still fielding lots of phone calls from students who are enrolling in Fall 2013. Plus, we’re doing orientation sessions and helping incoming students register for their classes.
So, as you can see, each application season is a long and involved process. Admissions counselors are truly service-oriented people. They want to see each student succeed and are willing to put in the effort to help them do so. So, be nice to every university representative you meet. You never know what their role might be in making a decision about your application.
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College Music Admissions 